Ionic versus Versa: Which Fitbit smartwatch is for you?

Fitbit Versa, the company’s second smartwatch, goes on sale today at major retailers for $200. We’re here to compare it to the Fitbit Ionic, the company’s first smartwatch, which went on sale in October for $300. Although Fitbit has been the king of wearables for years, it lost that crown in Q1 2017 and hasn’t been able to regain it since. If you’re already a Fitbit fan or you’re simply not swayed by what Apple, Google, and Xiaomi have in store, it makes sense to go with a Fitbit Ionic or Fitbit Versa. The cheaper Fitbits are decent, but if you’re going to invest in a wearable, it might as well be a smartwatch. And as you’re about to see, the Versa makes a lot more sense for most people than the Ionic does. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m both not impressed with wearables and incredibly bullish about their future. Until we get wearables that aren’t essentially shitty phones, there are few devices worth considering. Fitbit’s Ionic and Versa are very good options, at least until there’s a real wearable breakthrough. Design I personally prefer the design of Ionic over the Versa, but based on my conversations with friends and colleagues, most prefer the latter. The Ionic may be bigger, but it is also blockier, and the Versa simply has a more refined look and feel. Both watches get nods of approval and complements when you start wearing them, so there’s little reason to be concerned if you care about… [Read full story]